CHESHIRE residents are being requested to help in the next stage of a five year county-wide transport strategy blueprint.

The county council's draft Local Transport Plan proposals, have been released for public consultation and residents have until Friday, April 29 to make their views known.

Five major schemes have been identified to take forward if Government funding became available.

In priority order these are:

A34 Alderley Edge and Nether Alderley Edge Bypass

Crewe Rail Gateway

South East Manchester Multi-Modal Study centred on the construction of the A523 Poynton Bypass and the remaining section of the Manchester Airport Eastern Link Road

Northwich Vision

Chester Transport Strategy including the Chester Western Relief Road and a new river crossing over the River Dee.

The county council has also been given clear support to tackle a number of key issues by 83 per cent of residents and organisations who took part in an earlier exercise.

Plans include reducing congestion, making roads safer, tackling speed and improving the quality of local bus and rail services, maintenance of road and bridges, support of town centre improvements, the economic growth of the county and regeneration in Northwich and Cheshire.

'This 17 page document is extremely important because it sets out transport framework aspirations and strategy in Cheshire from 2006 until 2011,' said Environment Executive member County Councillor Andrew Needham.

'Key issues include tackling the estimated 28 per cent increase in traffic levels in Cheshire in the next 15 years, and helping the 19% of Cheshire households without a car.

'We would ask people to come forward and tell us their views so that the Local Transport Plan is truly representative of the people of Cheshire.'

Responses will be considered by the County Council and the provisional Local Transport Plan will be sent to the Department of Transport in July.